While You Were Out, LLC, of Port St. Lucie, FL, has become an Accredited Member of the National Home Watch Association!

Jack Luber, Executive Director

Greetings and Salutations!

While You Were Out, of Port St. Lucie, FL, has gained accreditation in the NHWA!

Owners Kevin and Lisa Green are thrilled to announce the launch of their new Home Watch service to the Treasure Coast area in sunny, Southeast Florida. 

Originally from New Jersey, and prior to moving to Florida in 2006, Kevin worked as a builder and for a national shipping company in central Michigan. He received his Associate's Degree in 2013 and is currently working toward a Bachelor's Degree in business administration.

While in Michigan, Lisa worked in customer service and sales. She completed an accelerated teaching program and received her Bachelor's Degree in education in 2004. She had previously earned a business degree from Northwood University, as well.

With Kevin’s family in the area and a new teaching position for Lisa, they decided to settle in and have made the Treasure Coast their permanent residence for the past 7+ years. During this time, Lisa and Kevin would check on homes for family and friends; thus, the need for an actual home watch business developed that would branch out into the community to meet the unique needs of the snowbirds, travelers and part-time residents who live there.

Kevin and Lisa Green

While You Were Out serves the Treasure Coast: Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Hobe Sound, Hutchinson Island, Sewall’s Point, Vero Beach and Port Salerno. Kevin and Lisa can be reached at (772) 475-6449 or WhileYouWereOutHomeWatch@gmail.com. Or you can visit them on the Web at www.WhileYouWereOutHomeWatch.com.

Welcome, Lisa and Kevin!

As always, I wish you

Much success,

Jack

Motu Estate & Yacht Watch Services, of Laguna Niguel, CA, has gained Accredited Member status in the NHWA!

Jack Luber, Executive Director

 Greetings and salutations!

Motu Estate & Yacht Watch Services, of Laguna Niguel, CA, has gained Accredited Member status in the NHWA.

Michael Hogan, President, is a serial entrepreneur and long-time resident of south Orange County, CA. Mike came to appreciate the value of a watch service the hard way. With a second home in the mountains of Colorado and an island property in the South Pacific, there were always concerns with security, storm damage, broken pipes, forest fires, and many other potentially damaging and costly incidents or catastrophes. Those concerns proved valid when, during his absence, frozen pipes burst in his mountain home, resulting in nearly $300,000 in damages.

Having dealt with the aftermath of that incident, and leveraging his extensive business expertise, Mike decided to offer coastal estate and yacht owners the peace of mind that was unavailable to him. With strict written policies and procedures as well as an employee Code of Conduct, clients of Motu Estate & Yacht Watch Services can expect a very high level of professionalism, integrity and services customized to client needs.

When not pursuing business ventures—or conducting watch inspections—Mike writes. In fact, throughout his long career, he was a ‘behind-the-scenes’ prolific copywriter, compiling an impressive portfolio of award-winning materials and content. In 2006, he began focusing those skills on screenwriting and has now written several feature-length screenplays, many short film scripts, webisodes, and teleplays. His screenplay entries into major competitions have garnered over 50 top awards. And two of his award-winning short scripts, “Room Service” and “Just a Nibble,” which he also directed, became popular official selections on the film festival circuit in both the US and Europe, earning multiple awards.

Mike Hogan

Motu Estate & Yacht Watch Services serves Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Monarch Beach, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano. Mike can be reached at (949) 220-3355 or at michaelh@globalmotu.com. You can visit Motu Estate & Yacht Watch on the Web at www.globalmotu.com.

Congratulations, Michael!

As always, I wish you

Much success,

Jack

Home Watch Unlimited Services of Orlando, FL, has gained Accredited Member status in the NHWA!

Jack Luber, Executive Director

Greetings and salutations!

Home Watch Unlimited Services of Orlando, FL, has gained Accredited Member status in the NHWA.

Owners José and Natalie Cruz are full-time residents of the Dr. Phillips community in Orlando, Florida. They are former residents of Puerto Rico. Both are fully bilingual. Jose has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration, and Interior Design and Decoration. He has vast experience in remodeling and general construction projects through his company in Puerto Rico. Natalie is an accountant with extensive administrative experience, having established and owned her own business in Puerto Rico for 30 years.  She is very active in the community with her therapy dog, visiting hospitals, schools, universities, and doing volunteer work with autism and disabled children and cancer patients.

In 2006, José and Natalie bought a second home in Orlando and traveled constantly back and forth. A friend would occasionally check their house, but it was getting complicated. Problems started with a broken air-conditioning system and a flat tire on the car parked in the garage. Their friend helped them solve both problems, but they felt very uncomfortable bothering him so much. They assumed that other people must have been in that same situation, especially in a vacation city like Orlando. So five years ago, they started Home Watch Unlimited Services, LLC.  At first it began as a part-time job, with Natalie in charge. She would travel once a month to their home in Puerto Rico, while José would come to Orlando for a week. Business was picking up, so last year they finally decided to sell their house in Puerto Rico and move permanently to Orlando. 

Home Watch Unlimited Services has been growing rapidly, and last year their niece, Helen Cooper, has joined the team as Assistant Manager. 

José and Natalie Cruz

Helen Cooper

Home Watch Unlimited Services serves Orlando, Kissimmee, Poinciana, Davenport, Celebration, Windermere, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oviedo, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Longwood. They can be reached at (407) 721-0114 or at info@home-watch-services.com, or you can visit them on the web at www.home-watch-services.com.

Welcome, José, Natalie and Helen.

As always, I wish you

Much success,

Jack

Home Watch Service Plus KPB of Alaska has gained Accredited Member status for the second consecutive year!

Jack Luber, Executive Director

Greetings and salutations!

Home Watch Service Plus KPB, of the Kenai Peninsula, has gained Accredited Member status in the NHWA for the second consecutive year. 

Owner Stace Escott decided to get involved in the Home Watch industry while living on Amelia Island, Florida. Stace was an award-winning Director of the Year (2007) for an upscale retirement community. As Osprey Village's former Director of Facility Services, Stace gained an incredible amount of experience by implementing policies and overseeing an operation that affected the residents' day-to-day lifestyle and enjoyment. In addition to Stace's facility management, 10 years in law enforcement/loss prevention—and currently employed as a Sergeant for the Soldotna Police Department—prompted him to seek out an opportunity through Home Watch Service Plus to bring that same peace and quality of life to members of the public.

As a Director of Facility Services, Stace planned, directed, organized and supervised the short-term, scheduled, preventative, and emergency maintenance for equipment, buildings and grounds of a large upscale retirement campus. He provided overall supervision for all maintenance personnel, housekeeping personnel, and projects pertaining to each department as well as renovating numerous homes and construction projects. Stace also gained professional experience in project management, painting, siding, cabinetry, rain gutter installation, auto mechanics, along with acquired skills in flooring, electrical, plumbing, and many other trade skills, enabling him to tackle almost any household problem. Stace has lived in Alaska for over 18 years.



Stace  Escott

HWS Plus KPB serves Soldatna, Sterling, Kenai, Nikiski, and Kasilof. Stace can be reached at (907) 252-4431, at StaceEscott@HomeWatchServicePlus.com, or you can visit his page at http://www.homewatchserviceplus.com/kenai.

Congratulations, Stace. 
As always, I wish you 
Much success,

Jack

Insurance isn't the only reason to join the NHWA!

Greetings and salutations,

What a year we are having at the NHWA. We are getting more and more responses from non-member companies. We have potential Home Watch clients inquiring about accredited and non-accredited businesses. This recently happened in Southwest Florida, where some guy (obviously NOT a member) performing Home Watch was arrested for breaking and entering...in a house that he didn't belong in. Many people contact us when there is no accredited company in their area. I always try to reach out to companies in that area, but these things take time. 

I will tell you that people now understand the need for an organization that sets standards and accredits companies. A successful Home Watch company must instill trust, be great communicators, and guarantee the privacy of their clients. This is an absolute given. These are the pillars of the NHWA. Having said that, the assumption that because a company is insured, does not necessarily guarantee that the company has coverage for what they actually do. That is because Home Watch did not have its own insurance...until now. The NHWA offers a Home Watch policy to its members that truly covers Home Watch, concierge, light cleaning, light maintenance, and handyman work. The policy is inexpensive, and it carries the bonus coverage of professional liability insurance. This in itself is reason enough to join the NHWA, but there are so many more reasons. 

Give us a call at the NHWA office, and we'll tell you more. The number is (843) 357-6660. And watch for details about the 2014 North American NHWA conference. The dates are September 18th through the 21st. 


Much success to all,

Jack

Salo Home Watch of Cape Ann, MA, gains fourth-year accreditation in the NHWA!

Jack Luber, Executive Director

Greetings and Salutations!

I would like to congratulate Dana Salo and Salo Home Watch of Cape Ann, MA for maintaining NHWA accreditation for a fourth straight year. Since becoming involved with our organization, Dana has gone above and beyond with his passion and respect for the Home Watch industry. When asked to serve on our Advisory Board, there was no hesitation on his part. Dana has helped mentor new businesses and is always there to help if needed. When Dana spoke at last year's NHWA conference, he shared some very interesting knowledge (as well as a few jokes...) with the membership. By the time it was over, there was NO ONE who didn't know him. 

Dana is a 1983 graduate of Northeastern University, with a BS degree in Criminal Justice. He has been a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service for over 30 years and was the President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 33 for eight years. However, he gave up the president's job in 2011 in order to focus on his growing Home Watch business.

Dana and his wife, Karen, have been married for over 20 years. They have two grown daughters. 

Dana Salo

Salo Home Watch serves the Cape Ann and North Shore areas of Massachusetts. Dana can be reached at salohomewatch@comcast.net or at (978) 660-2372. You can also find him on the Web at www.SaloHomeWatch.com.

Congratulations, Dana!
As always, I wish you
Much success,

Jack
 

Sun Chasers Home Watch of Palm Desert, CA, Gains NHWA Accreditation!

Jack Luber, Executive Director

  

Greetings and Salutations!

Sun Chasers Home Watch of Palm Desert, CA, has gained Accredited Member status in the NHWA.

Owners Dean and Kay Peterson are full-time residents of the beautiful desert community of Monterey Country Club in Palm Desert, California. 

Dean has a business degree from Michigan State University, but his main title is “the fix-it guy.” He has a can-do attitude, is conscientious, and can figure out how to fix anything. Dean has owned and operated several businesses over the years.  

Kay has lived most of her life in Southern California and has owned three different rental properties in the Palm Springs and Palm Desert communities over an 11-year period, including one at Monterey Country Club before becoming a full-time resident.  She understands the challenges of leaving a vacation home empty and hoping that neighbors and rental agents would watch over these properties while she was away, only to be shocked upon her return to disasters that could have been avoided. She saw a need for a service that would eliminate that uneasy feeling and confirm that her valuable investment was in good condition and ready for her return.   

Kay holds a certificate from the Interior Design Institute of Newport Beach, California, a certification as a Professional Home Stager & Re-Designer from the Home Staging Resource in San Diego, and a California real estate license. She has worked for 25 years as a professional in the convention industry.  She has a great eye for design and property value, and in addition to doing Home Watch, she offers additional services to beautify homes, as well as shopping and other concierge services. 

Dean and Kay love their lives in the desert.

Dean and Kay Peterson

Sun Chasers Home Watch serves the Coachella Valley cities of Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Indio, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, and Cathedral City. They can be reached at (888) 551-8355 or at Dean@SunChasersHomeWatch.com. You can visit them on the Web at www.SunChasersHomeWatch.com.

Welcome, Dean and Kay!

As always, I wish you

Much success,

Jack

NJ Home Watch, of Manahawkin, NJ, gains Accredited Member status for the second consecutive year

Jack Luber, Executive Director

Greetings and Salutations!

NJ Home Watch, of Manahawkin, NJ, has attained Accredited Member status for the second consecutive year.

Owners Cathy and Keith Gunsten, along with their daughter, son, and daughter-in-law, make up the NJ Home Watch team. Long Beach Island (LBI) has long been a summer home and vacation area, where people go to enjoy the beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, the Barnegat Bay, and all the activities associated with the Jersey Shore.

Cathy grew up on LBI and attended Ocean County College. She is a Board Member of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and an associate member of the Former New Jersey State Troopers Association.

Keith grew up in Lakewood and graduated from Paul Smith’s College in New York. He is a retired New Jersey State Trooper and patrolled the same area and its waterways for most of his career. He is President of the Southern Ocean Rotary Club, and a member of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Ocean Medical Center’s Citizens Advisory Board, and the Former New Jersey State Troopers Association.

Having both grown up in Ocean County, they have a unique perspective of the area. When Cathy was growing up on LBI, there were only about five families living on her street year round—the rest of the homes sat vacant for nine months. The permanent residents would keep an eye on the vacant homes, but from the outside only. When the absentee homeowners returned in the spring, they never knew what would greet them.

Cathy and Keith come from a family of first responders. They know first-hand what can happen when properties are left unoccupied. They realized there was a need for Home Watch services and started Seaspray Services about 10 years ago. The Home Watch division was always difficult for people to understand, so about three years ago they changed the name to NJ Home Watch. It has made a tremendous difference in their business.

The Gunstens live in Manahawkin, which is right over the bridge from LBI. In They will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary in May.

Cathy and Keith Gunsten

NJ Home Watch serves all of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. They can be reached at (609) 660-1024 and can be found on the Web at www.njhomewatch.com.

Congratulations, Cathy and Keith.

As always, I wish you

Much success,

Jack